`Red and White` Poinsettia

ABSTRACT

A new variety of poinsettia in which the bract coloration is distinctly red with distinct white mottling. This plant was found among Angelika White cultivars, and it shares with them a similar leaf color, height, and blooming habit.

PREAMBLE

This relates to a new Pointsettia which is distinguishable from otherpoinsettias by its red and white mix of colors.

Each bract differs from every other bract, but all have in common avariegated appearance characterized by a mix of distinct red anddistinct white.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When first discovered by J. R. Poinsett in Mexico in 1828, thepoinsettia was noted for its vivid coloration which varied betweenscarlet, pink, and white; however, it has since demonstrated a uniqueability to mutate, and horticulturists have produced from this member ofthe Spurge family a wide variety of new cultivars.

In 1976, John Fantom was issued a patent to a Poinsettia havingvariegated red and pink bracts (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,889). In thiscultivar, the bracts are brick red and the pink is in the form of spotsand blotches.

Variations on this red-pink theme are also covered by F. Fruehwirth inpatents which claim a dark red and light pink coloration (U.S. PlantPat. No. 7,308), red with pink flecks (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,230), and"bi-colored red and pink" (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,771).

To the discoverer's knowledge, there has not previously been patented acultivar of Poinsettia which has solely red and white bract colors andthe other characteristics of the plant of this disclosure and onelacking pink bract shades as the plant herein disclosed.

It is anticipated that the plant of this discovery will be sold underthe trademark SAN-T-CLAUS.

ORIGIN

The present cultivar was found, by Applicant, in his greenhouse inGraterford, Pa. on Dec. 3, 1993.

Applicant does not profess to know the precise origin of this plant, butit was discovered by him in a bench among Angelika White cultivars.Other varieties may also have been present.

About 400 of these specimens have been reproduced to date. None havebeen sold.

THE PHOTOGRAPH

The Poinsettia of this invention is known botanically as Euphorbiapulcherrima. The accompany photo shows a top view of a typical plant infull bloom. Color descriptions are made in accordance with the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, except where color descriptions ofordinary meaning are appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The plant of this discovery has essentially the same plantcharacteristics and growing habit as its suspected parent `Angelika`,but differs therefrom primarily in the coloration expressed in the leafand bract petioles and in bract coloration. The plant is distinguishedfrom the suspected parent plant by having bracts which are of distinctlyred and white coloration, which are variegated with the bract laminasbeing predominantly red having blotches of white coloration. On theHorticultural Color Chart, it is #53-B, Cardinal Red (the British ColorCouncil identifies #53-B as Cardinal).

The characteristics of this new cultivar are based on observations madeof flowering plants grown in Applicant's greenhouses in Graterford, Pa.

This new plant is particularly distinguished in having a characteristic,nonuniform expression of white spots or mottles in its predominantly redbract color. The white spots or mottles are characteristically notuniform in size and expressed in widely varying ranges of paterns andlocations of white spots. This plant is believed to be a stabilizedchimera and is easily maintained by the prudent selection of stockmaterial for asexual reproduction which does not express an extreme ofwhite or red in the bract coloration.

There is no difficulty in selecting cuttings because the colors areclearly visible, and one has only to look to the color of the leafpetiole during harvesting. The leaf petiole will be green and red, thesame as the variegated bract.

After selection, the plants are reproduced asexually from rootedcuttings for propagation purposes. The selected plant is stable and hasbeen repeatedly asexually reproduced by the inventor or under hisdirection by rooting cuttings at the above noted location. Rooting issuperior to those of almost all known Poinsettia varieties.

Propagation over successive generations has demonstrated that the redand white coloration of this cultivar is true and consistentlyreproducible.

The color patterns vary considerably so that no two are ever the same,but all of the bracts have in common a unique variegated colorationconsisting of distinct red with distinct white mottling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Classification:

Botanic.--Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Varietal.--Red and White.

Common name.--Poinsettia.

Foliage: The leaves are typically ovate, and at maturity, they about12-15 cm long and about 8-10 cm wide. The foliage is clean and uniformlygreen from top to bottom. Leaf retention is good even at roomtemperature under low light intensity.

Cyathia: Each cyanthium is green with yellow nectar cups, and fringedwith red at the distal end. In general, about 12-20 cyathia can be foundon a mature plant.

Bracts: Approximately 15-19 bi-colored red and white bracts subtend thecyathia.

Fully developed bracts are essentially ovate or elliptical withacuminate tips and acute bases. There is slight lobing on either side ofthe bract. Mature bracts measure about 15-19 cm long and about 10-11 cmwide. Texture is fairly smooth.

Growth habit: Cuttings root readily to produce a single stemmed cultivarwhich stands medium-tall and upright.

Growth rate: Cuttings root within about 12-18 days with occasionalwatering. Flowering occurs in about 9-11 weeks.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant substantiallyas shown and described, characterized by a stable and uniform colorationof distinct red bracts with distinct white mottling.